My top 5 Wii U launch day games

The Wii U launched today, and while you’re waiting in line to get a system or downloading that epic update, you may be wondering what games to get from retailers or the eShop. I’m here to help. I’ve been putting the system through its paces since Nov. 8. I played through bothNew Super Mario Bros. U andNintendo Land. I’ve dabbled in a handful of other games to get the feel of them.

Here’s where I’d rank my top 5 launch games based on the short time with the system.

1. ZombiU — If there’s one game to get during the launch, it’s this one. No other title this side of Nintendo Land shows off what the Wii U can do. But the reason that I put it atop my list is that it’s more cohesive and brims with a creepy atmosphere. It brings back the old-school survival-horror vibe as you play as a London survivor trying to get through the zombiepocalypse.

What’s interesting is that everything takes place in real time. There’s no chance to catch your breath as you wander through deserted streets, scavenge for supplies and pummel enemies to death with a paddle. To ratchet up the pressure, you have one character to get through the game at a time and if you die, you’ll have to start over and kill your zombified old self.

Ubisoft Montpelier also comes up with some inventive ways to play off the dual screens. Players use the GamePad to scan or organize supplies. All the while, they’ll have to be wary of danger that could be lurking nearby. There are also elements of Demon’s Souls with a player-run hint system and intense difficulty.

2. New Super Mario Bros. U – Every Nintendo system has to come out with a Mario game of some sort, and the Wii U is no different. Unlike theGalaxy series though, New Super Mario Bros. U is a throwback. It’s a 2D platformer where Mario, Luigi and two toads have to save the princess through several different worlds.

This edition is huge and sports a hair-pulling amount of difficulty. The game will test the most ardent Mario fan’s skills. But the big equalizer is the Boost Mode that’s employed via the GamePad. It lets the user act in a support role, where they can rescue allies with bricks that they can conjure out of thin air. They can also stun enemies.

The most interesting thing though is that the GamePad player has a different perspective on a level, and they can often spot secrets or hidden items. It forces gamers into actual teamwork though having five players can get chaotic at times.

3. Nintendo Land – If you want an all-around game, you can’t go wrong with this. Built like a theme park, this title has a good mix of single player and group attractions. Minigames such as Yoshi’s Fruit Cart are OK but don’t show off the potential and fun of the system like Balloon Trip or Takamaru’s Ninja Castle.

But the magic in Nintendo Land comes in the competitive play. Attractions like Mario Chase or Animal Crossing: Sweet Day are what the system is built for. The GamePad lets users be the person hiding while the rest of the group searches for him or it lets a user act as the guards hunting for critters stealing candy on a map. If you can get five people to play along this holiday, the experience can be life-changing.

4. Scribblenauts Unlimited – I always felt that the originalScribblenauts on the Nintendo DS was a great idea on the wrong system. The controls were too clumsy and the screen was too small that playing the puzzle game was hard. In this sequel, the developer, 5th Cell, builds more of a narrative around Max and his magical ability to write objects into existence.

The franchise has come along way with a more open world and several playable characters that mixes the title up a bit. But the core gameplay is the same: Max and his siblings will encounter problems and you’ll have to write down words to try to solve them. For example, if a cat is stuck in a tree, you can try writing the word “ladder” to get it down or you could write “fish” and see it drop down to eat it.

The game still has players controlling Max with the analog stick and he can jump, but 5th Cell streamlined everything so that Max can use items more easily and manipulate the world with a tap of the touch-screen.

5. FIFA 13 – I’m not a soccer fan, but this game could make me one. It’s one of the better ports that are out there for the Wii U. The thing that makes it different from all the others though is that EA Canada integrates the GamePad touch-screen into the gameplay. Not everything works perfectly but the thought and effort put into it makes it more than a quick cash-in.

The team planned out how to use the GamePad’s additional functionality and meld it with the gameplay. You can draw run lines for teammates on the touch-screen. You can use the motion controls to call up a new shot system that lets you kick a goal by tapping where in the net to aim for. You can even shuffle through lineups and add new strategies on the fly.

I find your review interesting. Ty. However, I still am skeptical of the potential of this console. I own both ps3 and Xbox 360 but I miss the good old times with my n64 playing Mario party with my friends when they would come over. I never wanted to go into Wii but the second display functionality could take me back to Nintendo lines. Could you talk more about the tablet controller and how you interact with it. Also, can you move away from the tv and take the game on the go?

Extremely good design and style and great subject matter, really small else we want : D.

Gieson Cacho

@Larsen you can take the tablet with you about 10 or 20 feet. But it’s useful if the missus wants to watch The Voice and you want to play New Super Mario Bros. The tablet also has a microphone, camera, stylus, NFC and its own speakers. There’s a lot of potential for two screen gameplay but not many games use it.